How to set up the Pre-Event Alert Automation

In this article, we'll look at how to use Ticketsolve's Automation functionality to set up the Pre-Event Alert to send a reminder email to customers ahead of their event.

Why use a Pre-Event Alert?

The Pre-Event Alert is an automatic email sent to ticket purchasers before their event. It helps build customer relationships and provides essential info, like parking details, promotions, tickets, and digital wallet options. Plus, it gets customers excited about the event!

Here's how our Pre-Event Alert Automation works:

• Scheduled communication: Set the alert email to send automatically so many minutes before the event.
• A pre-built email template: Use our MJML Upcoming Event Alert Email Template out of the box or customise it as you like, including inbuilt QR codes and the option to add tickets to Google/Apple Wallet.
• Custom messaging: Include show or event-specific information within your email template.
• Flexible control: The option to enable the alert across your account, or enable/disable only for specific Programs, Shows or Events.

How to set up the Pre-Event Alert

1. Check the Upcoming Event Alert Email template.

2. Add any custom messaging to the Upcoming Customer Alert Snippet.

3. Set where the Pre-Event Alert should be active.

4. Set the sending schedule.

5. Enable the Automation!

Read below for step-by-step instructions on each of the above...

Check the email template

We've pre-built a Pre-Event Alert MJML email template for you to use out of the box. The template will likely work for you as is, but you can customise it if you want.

If you're not yet using our new MJML email templates contact our Support team to be switched over!

To preview your Pre-Event Alert email:

1. Go to Settings > Email Templates. You will see a new template called Upcoming event customer alert.

2. Click on the Upcoming event customer alert template.

3. Go across to the MJML tab.

4. Click Send Preview. A preview of the email will land in the inbox of the email address used on the user profile you are logged into Ticketsolve under.

5. If you're happy with the preview of your email, you can move on to the next steps below. If you'd like to customise your template, check out our guide to getting started with MJML design.

To give you an idea of how it will look out of the box, here is an example using our branding:

Add your custom messaging

You can use the Upcoming Customer Alert Snippet to add any Program, Show or Event-specific information within your overall email template.

1. Go to Manage > Shows (and then into the Event level if you require).

2. Find and select the Show or Event you require.

3. Click the Settings tab.

4. Find the setting called "upcoming event customer alert snippet" and click on it.

5. You can now add any Show or Event-specific information.

Anything you add here will only be included in the email when tickets for the relevant Show or Event are purchased.

6. Click Update to save.

Set where the Pre-Event Alert should be active

You can control whether you want the Pre-Event Alert to be active for all Events in your account, or if it should only be active for specific Programs, Shows or Events.

To enable at the Account level:

1. Go to Settings > General Settings.

2. Select the setting called "upcoming event customer alert enabled".

3. Tick the box in the centre of the screen so it is blue.

4. Click Update to save.

To enable at Show or Event level only:

1. First, make sure that the "upcoming event customer alert enabled" setting is off on the Account level (Settings > General Settings).

2. Go to Manage > Shows (and then into the Event level if you require).

3. Find and select the Show or Event you require.

4. Click the Settings tab.

5. Find the "upcoming event customer alert enabled" setting and click on it.

6. Tick the box in the centre of the screen so it is blue.

7. Click Update to save.

 Important

Pre-Event Alerts are not Subdomain-aware. This means that if you have multiple subdomains on your account, any Pre-Event Alert settings changed at Subdomain level other than on your main/original subdomain will not be picked up.

Changes to the following must be made at Account, Program, Show or Event level and should not be made at the Subdomain level unless on your main/original subdomain:

• Setting where the Pre-Event Alert should be active or not active
• Text in the "Upcoming Event Alert Snippet" setting

This also means that Pre-Event Alerts will always be sent using the Email Template Look & Feel styling set on the Account's main/original Subdomain, regardless of which Subdomain the order was placed on.

Enable the Automation

1. Navigate to Manage > Automations. Here you will see a Pre Event Alert Automation Card. 

2. Click on the 3 dots (additional options) icon.

3. Select Edit parameters. 

4. Enter the Pre-Event Alert Lead Time in minutes. This is how many minutes before an event the pre-event email should be sent.

For example, to set pre-event emails to be sent 24 hours before an Event, enter '1440'. 

5. Click Save.

6. Lastly click on Enable to activate your Pre-Event Alert Automation.

🎉Your Pre-Event Alert Automation is now live! 🎉

 Ticketsolve Tip

To exclude individual customers from receiving Pre- and Post-Event Alert emails add the Tag 'skip_customer_alerts_tag' to their Customer Record.

Amending or disabling the Pre-Event Alert Automation

You'll always have the option to amend the Automation or disable it fully:

1. Go to the Automations page via Manage > Automations and select the Pre Event Alert Automation.

2. Click Disable to turn off the Automation fully or click on the 3 dots (additional options) icon and into Edit parameters to change the schedule.

3. You can also always change where the Pre-Event Alert should be active by ticking or unticking the "upcoming event customer alert enabled" setting at Account/Program/Show/Event level settings.

 Important

The Upcoming Event Customer Alert email will only be sent once. This means that if the alert has already been sent and then the date or time of the Event is changed to later, it won't be sent a second time.

Want to know more?

• Introducing: Ticketsolve Automations
• Upcoming Event Alert - MJML email template
• How to set up the Post-Event Alert Automation